Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis says selecting her squad for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-off Tournament was far from straightforward, with injuries, passport issues and academic commitments limiting her options.

South Africa will face Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan in the preliminary phase as they continue their quest to secure a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Ellis says the quality of players putting their hands up made the selection process increasingly difficult.

“It’s always difficult selecting a squad. It’s never easy. So many players raise their hands, but we had a lot of challenges with players not having passports, players having a passport and it not being valid.”

She explained that players need passports with at least six months’ validity when receiving a call-up, while injuries and school and university examinations also affected selection.

Despite the challenges, Ellis has welcomed the return of five players to the squad and says the upcoming tournament demands the team’s full focus.

“You cannot think about anything else further than this one. And of course, the first game.”

Ellis also acknowledged that the intensity of the domestic Hollywoodbets Super League remains below the level required internationally, although players continue to impress enough to earn national-team opportunities.

She recalled one player’s reaction after experiencing the intensity of a Banyana training camp for the first time.

“I remember a player coming to camp and saying to me after the first session, ‘Coach, the Hollywoodbets League is lying to us.’”

The player, Ellis said, was struck by the difference in intensity between domestic football and the national team environment.

ELLIS PRAISES CLUBS FOR DEMANDING TRAVEL SCHEDULE

The Banyana coach also praised domestic clubs for managing a demanding schedule, particularly teams travelling long distances by road and those required to play early-morning matches after evening training sessions.

“I have to commend the clubs that have done that. It couldn’t have been easy.”

Ellis believes better planning between the national team and clubs could help ease the logistical burden next season.

FIFA mentorship programme provides Ellis with another perspective

Ellis also revealed that her recent trip to Morocco was not specifically to scout Nigeria, as some may have assumed.

She was in Morocco for the closing ceremony of an 18-month FIFA coaching mentorship programme, where she mentored Kenya’s Under-17 coach after their run to the last 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“I’ve been on an 18-month workshop with FIFA, mentoring the coach of Kenya Under-17 who got to the last 16 of the World Cup.”

Ellis said that the programme has given her an opportunity to help develop coaches from across Africa.

OVERSEAS-BASED PLAYERS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT

Ellis believes the growing number of South African players competing overseas is a major advantage for Banyana Banyana.

She says she maintains regular communication with several of the overseas-based players and that the national team’s conditioning staff also remains in contact with their clubs.

Players such as Thembi Kgatlana, Bongeka Gamede and Linda Motlhalo are among those bringing international experience back into the squad.

Ellis says the impact of overseas experience was particularly evident at the Aisha Buhari Cup.

“It shows the quality they can bring and the experience they can bring.”

She also believes more players should consider moving abroad to continue their development, specifically highlighting Karabo Dhlamini as someone she feels has outgrown the domestic league.

“For her to be better and for her to grow, I think she needs to go as well.”

Ellis backs experienced players

Ellis also defended the continued inclusion of veteran midfielder Fifi Jane, insisting age should not automatically determine whether a player remains in the national team.

“For me, it’s not about how old you are. It’s what you can offer.”

She pointed to former Banyana captain Noko Matlou, who represented South Africa until the age of 39, as an example of why experienced players should not be discarded simply because of their age.

“Experience means nothing if you can’t add value anymore. But until they cannot add value anymore, I still think they can give a lot to the team.”

Ellis says the current group has the quality and experience to compete against Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan, but she will not underestimate any of the opponents.

“We’ve never gone into any game underestimating anyone and we’re not going to do it this time either.”

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